15. DRAFT PROTOCOL FOR THE INSTITUTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL COM MISSION ON MILITARY AND NAVAL ARMAMENTS AND BUDGETS (in case any great Power should not be prepared to sign a treaty on the subject) The Governments of Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia, and the United States not having been able to agree on a satisfactory basis of arrangement for giving effect to the following resolution and vau adopted at The Hague Conference of 1899: [Resolution.] "The Conference is of opinion that the restriction of military budgets, which are at present a heavy burden on the world, is extremely desirable for the increase of the material and moral welfare of mankind "; [V'œu.] "That Governments, taking into account the proposals made at the Conference, should examine the possibility of an understanding concerning the limitation of military and naval armaments, and of war budgets"; but being desirous of giving all possible effect at a future Conference to the great and useful object contemplated by the above resolution and vau, agree as follows: (1) The question of restricting military budgets and military and naval armaments shall be submitted to examination by a Commission of experts to be composed of four representatives for each of the above Governments--the said representatives to be experts respectively in military, naval, and financial matters, and in International Law; (2) A full report of the discussions of the Commission shall be printed at the expense of the Powers concerned; but any Government represented shall be entitled to have any statements made in its behalf excluded from the report. (3) The British Government is entrusted with the convening of the Commission, which shall meet in London not later than one year from the date of this protocol. 16. DRAFT PROTOCOL FOR THE INSTITUTION OF A COMMISSION TO CONSIDER ALL QUESTIONS RAISED BUT LEFT IN ABEYANCE BY THE HAGUE CONFERENCE OF 1907 The Governments of the Powers represented at the present Conference having found it impossible to deal with many of the questions which have been raised thereat, but wishing to give every possible facility for their discussion at a future Conference, and to take advantage of the interval for the purpose of formulating and co-ordinating the different suggestions which have been made, agree to refer all such matters for consideration to an international Commission, which shall be formed and carry on its examination of the questions submitted to it in accordance with the following provisions: 1. The Commission shall be composed of one member for each sovereign Power. 2. At each session the Commission shall elect a Chairman, whose functions as such expire with the closing thereof. 3. It shall be competent for the Commission to submit special points for advice thereupon to the Institute of International Law, the International Law Association, and any other scientific or expert bodies. 4. Reports and recommendations shall be signed by those who approve them, but shall have no binding force on the Governments represented by the delegates thus signing. 5. The calling of meetings and all matters relating to their accommodation shall be entrusted to the Dutch Government. The expenditure occasioned shall be reimbursed to the Dutch Government by the different States concerned in the proportions fixed for the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union. 2A. CONVENTION ON ALTERATIONS TO BE MADE IN THE HAGUE PEACE CONVENTION OF 1899, INCLUDING REVISION OF THE MEDIATION CLAUSES The High Contracting Parties, etc. etc. GOOD OFFICES AND MEDIATION.1 (1) Whereas experience has shown that the articles relating to good offices and mediation in the Peace Convention of 1899 are drawn too vaguely to effect the purpose set out in Article I. thereof, and whereas it is the desire of the High Contracting Parties to encourage as much as possible recourse to this pacific method, the character of which is essentially friendly, and which the High Contracting Parties reiterate their firm intention, as among them, never, in any case, to regard in any other light, 1 See p. 191. Decide That Articles II. to VIII. of the said Peace Convention are hereby cancelled, and for them substituted the following articles: 2 2. In case of serious disagreement between any of the Signatory Powers which may have caused a rupture of diplomatic relations, the said Signatory Powers undertake forthwith to communicate a statement of their respective grievances to the International Bureau of The Hague Court. The International Bureau shall upon communication of such statement by either or both Parties, immediately have it or them printed, and shall communicate with the least possible delay copies thereof to the diplomatic representatives at The Hague of the other Signatory Powers. The Bureau shall also call a meeting of the said diplomatic representatives, to be held at any time not exceeding 10 days after communication of the said statement or statements, for the purpose of receiving any further communication in connection therewith, and ascertaining if any Power or Powers is or are prepared to offer its or their good offices for the purpose of mediation.3 2 The text in French would be as follows: 2. En cas de grave désaccord entre l'une ou l'autre des Puissances signataires, suivi de la rupture des relations diplomatiques, les dites Puissances signataires s'engagent à communiquer un exposé de leurs griefs respectifs au Bureau International de la Cour de la Haye. Le Bureau International, dés réception de cet exposé par les deux Parties ou l'une d'elles, le fera imprimer et le communiquera dans le plus bref délai aux représentants diplomatiques à la Haye des autres Puissances signataires. Le Bureau convoquera en même temps lesdits représentants diplomatiques à une réunion qui devra avoir lieu 10 jours au plus tard après la communication dudit ou desdits exposés, en vue de recevoir toutes communications ultérieures se rapportant au litige en question et de reconnaitre si une ou plusieurs Puissances est ou sont disposées à offrir ses ou leurs bons offices en vue d'une médiation. 3 This Art. would permit of effect being given to Art. VIII. of the Treaty of Paris 1856, which provided that an "opportunity" should be given to the Powers to mediate. The wording of The Hague Convention provides no opportunity." See Text of Art. VIII. p. 191. 3. Any State shall have the right at any moment to lay a statement of any difficulty, which it may have been unable to settle by diplomatic negotiation, before the International Bureau, which, thereupon, shall print the said statement and submit it to the diplomatic representatives at The Hague of the other Signatory Powers, and call a meeting of the said representatives, to be held at any time not exceeding 21 days thereafter, for the purpose of receiving any communication in connection therewith, and ascertaining if any Power or Powers is or are prepared to offer its or their good offices for the purpose of mediation. 3. Tout État aura le droit, à n'importe quel moment, de soumettre un exposé de toute difficulté qu'il aura été impossible de solutionner par la voie diplomatique, au Bureau International, lequel au reçu de ce document, le fera imprimer et le soumettra aux représentants diplomatiques à la Haye des autres Puissances signataires. Le Bureau convoquera les dits représentants à une réunion qui devra avoir lieu au plus tard 21 jours après ladite communication, en vue de recevoir toutes communications ultérieures se rapportant au même objet et de reconnaitre si une ou plusieurs Puissances est ou sont disposées à offrir ses ou leurs bons offices en vue d'une médiation. |